The Denver Nuggets didn't have the greatest of offseasons after losing starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency and seeing their first-round pick tear his ACL. They also were forced to offload their backup point guard for several second-round picks and signed their second-best player to a questionable massive deal.
All of that is to say that the Nuggets need some encouraging news. They got it from Christian Braun, their newest starter, who will replace Caldwell-Pope in the starting five. During their two preseason games against the defending champion Boston Celtics, the Nuggets put him on superstar Jayson Tatum and the results were encouraging. Take a look.
Watch Christian Braun guard Jayson Tatum. pic.twitter.com/Qj4ZL96qpQ
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) October 5, 2024
Braun holding his own on defense against one of the best offensive players in the NBA is encouraging, to say the least, and should give Nuggets fans reason for optimism.
Can Christian Braun prove himself as the Denver Nuggets' new starter?
Braun showing solid defensive chops should make him a reasonable replacement for Caldwell-Pope on that end.
Christian Braun locked up Jayson Tatum on a couple of drives to the rim that half -- using his strength and size well. It's an aspect of his defense that's an upgrade from KCP. He can take on bigger, more physical matchups.
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) October 4, 2024
However, KCP was also an above-average shooter, something that the Nuggets will miss after ranking 24th in 3-point attempts and 23rd in 3-point percentage last season.
Braun shot 38.4% from three last season and 37.3% from three over his career but is a low-volume shooter, especially for a shooting guard, attempting just 3.6 threes per 36 minutes. The Nuggets need Braun to shoot far more and maintain his efficiency for him to thrive in his new role.
That probably won't happen overnight but if he can space the floor and defend his position effectively, then that should be good enough to keep Denver from missing KCP too much.
The Denver Nuggets need Braun and others to step up.
If Braun can replace KCP, then they may not take a major step back next season, but they will also need others to step up. Adding Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric should help their bench, specifically Westbrook, who is a bit of a wildcard.
He often takes wild shots from outside, but he is a terrific rebounder, a capable defender, and pushes the pace, often leading to easy baskets for teammates. If he plays under control, then he will be a nice upgrade at backup point guard. Considering how Nikola Jokic wanted them to sign him and how he wanted to play for Denver, there is hope that he will find a role that suits him.
Ultimately, players like Braun, Westbrook, and Saric will determine how the Nuggets perform. If they can live up to their roles then Jokic might have enough of a supporting cast to get them back to the Western Conference Finals.